Autolacing footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear, lacing engine, and method includes a motor, a transmission operatively coupled to the motor, and a lace spool. The lace spool is operatively coupled to the transmission and includes a top lace groove in a top surface of the lace spool and a circumferential channel, wherein the lace is configured to be inserted in the top lace groove and be taken up around the circumferential channel based on a turning of the lace spool from action by the motor and transmission. A fastener is configured to couple the lace spool to the transmission and is inserted into the lace spool via the top surface, the fastener having a head having a head width sufficient to partially cover the top lace groove, leaving a top gap having a gap width less than a thickness of the lace.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lacing engine for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a motor;   a transmission, operatively coupled to the motor;   a lace spool, operatively coupled to the transmission, including a top lace groove in a top surface of the lace spool and a circumferential channel, wherein a lace is configured to be inserted in the top lace groove and be taken up around the circumferential channel based on a turning of the lace spool from action by the motor and transmission; and   a fastener, configured to couple the lace spool to the transmission, inserted into the lace spool via the top surface, the fastener having a head having a head width sufficient to partially cover the top lace groove, leaving a top gap having a gap width less than a thickness of the lace.   
     
     
         2 . The lacing engine of  claim 1 , wherein the head has a circular shape that aligns with and covers in part a curved portion of the top lace groove. 
     
     
         3 . The lacing engine of  claim 2 , wherein the top lace grove includes straight portions between an edge of the lace spool and the curved portion. 
     
     
         4 . The lacing engine of  claim 3 , wherein the lace enters the top lace groove at the straight portions of the top lace groove. 
     
     
         5 . The lacing engine of  claim 3 , wherein the top surface includes two rounded edges between two truncated edges, and wherein the top lace groove extends between the two rounded edges. 
     
     
         6 . The lacing engine of  claim 5 , wherein the lace spool further comprises a bottom flange and wherein the circumferential channel is formed between the bottom flange and the top surface. 
     
     
         7 . The lacing engine of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a screw. 
     
     
         8 . A method of making a lacing engine for an article of footwear, comprising:
 operatively coupling a transmission to a motor; and   operatively coupling a lace spool to the transmission with a fastener, wherein the lace spool includes a top lace groove in a top surface of the lace spool and a circumferential channel, wherein a lace is configured to be inserted in the top lace groove and be taken up around the circumferential channel based on a turning of the lace spool from action by the motor and transmission, wherein the fastener is inserted into the lace spool via the top surface, the fastener having a head having a head width sufficient to partially cover the top lace groove, leaving a top gap having a gap width less than a thickness of the lace.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the head has a circular shape that aligns with and covers in part a curved portion of the top lace groove. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the top lace grove includes straight portions between an edge of the lace spool and the curved portion. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the top lace groove is configured to admit the lace at the straight portions of the top lace groove. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the top surface includes two rounded edges between two truncated edges, and wherein the top lace groove extends between the two rounded edges. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the lace spool further comprises a bottom flange and wherein the circumferential channel is formed between the bottom flange and the top surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the fastener is a screw.